A History Of Game Shows
Welcome back to another addition of the Casino Time Machine. This time we’re exploring the world of tv game shows and casino games inspired by the classic and the modern.
Roulette has provided the basis for many of the world’s best-known game shows. The spinning wheel with its coloured pockets is the hallmark of shows such as Wheel of Fortune and The Price Is Right, and more modern shows such as Red or Black? which became the most expensive game in history.
So, let’s take a look back at where game shows began, how they grew and what they’ve inspired along the way.
Why are we so obsessed with game shows right now? Because we’re holding our very own Cash Show! There’s 8 weeks of competition, with €100,000 in cash and €100,000 in bonuses to be won. Join us tomorrow for the fifth round, Who Wants To Be A Megaways, for the chance to win €10,000 when you play on selected Megaways slots.
A History Of Game Shows
1930s
In the early days of TV and radio the first ever game show was Spelling Bee, recorded live and consisted of contestants competing against well-known TV stars. Television stations closed during World War II, but even when it was reinstated in the 1940s, the game shows were forgettable at best.
1950s
Within 20 years, game shows became a staple of TV schedules, and daytime TV shows began to offer lower stakes to target the audience of housewives and daytime viewers. Higher-stakes programmes with bigger prizes and rewards were pushed to primetime slots.
1959
By the turn of the 60s, many higher stakes game shows were found to be rigged and so most were killed off, but panel-style game shows survived and began to explode with titles such as What’s My Line? This was the first game show to offer cash prizes, and across all game shows the top prizes were limited to €6,608 per show.
1960s and 1970s
More diverse game shows were added to the mix, alongside colour TV! New celebrity shows started, and it didn’t take long for game shows to feature on prime time five times a week. Satirical humour began to surface too, particularly where politics was tense at the time.
1980s
Computers and Dungeons and Dragons paved the way for a new generation to consume media differently. Some game shows introduced technology and digital elements, one of the most well-known being Countdown.
1990s
Ah the 90s! Enter scrunchies, Game Boy and Tamagotchis. While game shows may have been as good as dead in the US, across the pond things were still thriving. In 1993 the rules were changed to allow for unlimited prize pools, enabling more thrilling high stakes games to make a comeback.
1998
A little game show called Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? was launched. Running from 1998 to 2014, it was edgy in its lighting, drama and futuristic set. But the 1 million dollar prize was what really kept the viewers clinging to their seats. Only a handful of players ever won the top prize, but the contestants’ valiant attempts were well worth watching. This game show has been aired in 160 countries worldwide, with multiple variants, spin-offs and online and offline games.
You can even play a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire slot game! Big Time Gaming’s vibrant slot includes an unlimited win Multiplier, a Hot Seat worth 50 free spins and 117,649 MegawaysTM.
2000s
From classic revivals to panel shows, dating games, challenges and more, game shows boomed all over the world, and comedians also began to take over the TV with satirical and often hilarious game shows.
Our Top Game Show Picks
Jeopardy!
This American game show featured a general knowledge quiz where clues were given as answers, and the contestants’ responses had to be said in the form of questions. This massive show originally aired on March 30, 1964 and a syndicated version is still aired daily in the US.
Wetten, dass..?
“Wanna bet that…?” was a German television show and at the time, the most successful Saturday TV show in Europe. Ordinary people were required to complete weird tasks (for instance, a farmer recognising his cows by the crunching sound they made when eating apples, which he did successfully, by the way) and offer a wager. This show became the format for You Bet! in the UK and similar shows in America.
Milionerzy
Milionerzy is the Polish version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and has been running since 2009. Instead of the Phone A Friend, Poland offers an Ask The Expert as one of the game’s three lifelines.The most recent winner of the 1 million złoty prize was Katarzyna Kant-Wysocka on March 14, 2019.
Our Pick Of Game Show-Inspired Casino Games
Deal Or No Deal
The classic game show has gone casino! Evolution Gaming’s brand-new title is multi-layered and promises to be riveting, just as you’ve seen on TV. You’ll get repeated chances to win big money, enjoy random Multipliers and immerse yourself in the game show vibe, with live hosts there to guide you every step of the way. Will you take the Banker’s offer or go for the final briefcase?
Dream Catcher
Money wheels are as popular on TV as they are in casinos, and now also available online. Evolution Gaming’s money wheel is an immersive and exciting experience. Simply bet on the number you think the wheel will stop on – 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 or 40, and if you bet on the correct number you’ll get a win with that corresponding payout.
Lightning Roulette
As thrilling and flamboyant a stage as any game show, Lightning Roulette is your typical Live Roulette game, with an extra punch. Five lightning numbers are boosted at random every round, and if you bet on one of these and win you can get up to 500x your stake!
Monopoly Live
A new addition to our Live Casino lobby is Evolution Gaming’s Monopoly Live, which mixes everything we love about Dream Catcher, with Rich Uncle Pennybags sat watching. Bet on the wheel of numbers, but if you bet on 2 to 4 rolls you’ll qualify for the bonus round. Plus, enjoy the thrill of the board game with added Chance segments for instant Multipliers and cash prizes.
